Guide Books

Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report

Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report

Hideaways of the Year

Each year at this time, we single out some of the world's most captivating hideaway hotels and resorts for special recognition. To be initially considered for our annual awards competition, properties must be relatively intimate in size and be located in peaceful and scenically pleasing surroundings. Moreover, previous recipients are ineligible to repeat as award winners for a three-year period. Distinctive country house hotels and resorts compatible with these basic qualifications are then judged for their all-round comfort, non-commercial character and passionate commitment to personal service. Also taken into consideration: the recent firsthand guest experiences of Hideaway Report readers.

Properties are not evaluated solely by means of a quantified checklist. During incognito inspections, of course, we note the general decor, design, cleanliness and upkeep of lodgings and public lounges; staffs are judged on esprit de corps, attentiveness, friendliness, thoroughness and efficiency; food on ingredients, inspiration and presentation; grounds on overall appearance and maintenance, and so on.

Ultimately, however, we rely on the 'Q factor' — the intangible summary impression that instinctively separates the good from the truly enchanting. Some of our award winners are grander than others, but each exudes an inviting sense of warmth and charm conducive to a relaxing stay.

On behalf of all of us at Harper Associates, we wish you and your family a very joyous Christmas season and the promise of a whole new year of wonderful hideaway discoveries.

Richard Harper Andrew Harper

Associate Publisher Editor & Publisher

• Harper Hospitality Award — Scotland's relaxing and unpretentious Isle of Eriska manor house-estate overseen by a charming staff, who instantly make you feel right at home. Tel. (44) 1631-720371.

• Best New U.S. Resort-Hotel — The distinctively designed Lodge at Torrey Pines, overlooking the sea and famed Torrey Pines Golf Course near San Diego. Tel. (858) 453-4420. www.lodgeattorreypines.com

• Best New Suburban Retreat — Luxurious San Clemente Palace, secluded on its own Venetian island 15 minutes by launch from St. Mark's Square. Fax (39) 041-244-5800. www.sanclemente.thi.it

• Best New Wine Country Inn — Napa Valley's stylish Milliken Creek, a 10-room boutique inn set along a serene wooded stretch of the Napa River. Tel. (707) 255-1197. www.millikencreekinn.com

• Sport Fishing Lodge of the Year — Exhilarating Nimmo Bay in British Columbia, where you can fly or spin fish for plentiful Pacific salmon and trout in pristine wilderness rivers reached via the resort's helicopters. Tel. (250) 956-4000. www.nimmobay.com.

Best Designed Hotels Of Europe II

Best Designed Hotels Of Europe II

Generally. one imagines life as a caveman to be fairly uncomfortable. Yet it continues to have a certain attraction, especially to some city people. In Australia, examples of habitable caves can still be found today, and in the Turkish region of Cappadocia, this form of shelter enjoys a long tradition. As early as the 5th Century, people dug their housing out of the area's soft tuff, formed as a result of volcanic activity.

At the beginning of the '90's, in the provincial town of Ürgüp, entrepreneur Yusuf Gorurgoz bought a number of cave dwellings from their inhabitants, who were more than happy to be able to move into "normal" houses. It took Gorurgoz, together with a team of architects and restaurateurs, four years to transform the houses into a hotel complex. Today it is without doubt one of the most extraordinary guesthouses in Europe.

On the southern side of a large cliff high above the town are caverns and niches, stairs and windows dug deep in the rock. Terraces are stacked up precariously on various levels; at first glance an almost surreal sight for urban eyes so used to angled surroundings. But a deep inner order, the harmony of a developed structure, soon becomes apparent to guests and contributes largely to a special atmosphere.

The reception and dining rooms are situated outside of the caves in a Greek-style manor house dating back to the 19th Century. From here, guests reach their accommodation via small off-set courtyards and various steps. With its 15 rooms and two suites, the Yunak Evleri is a relatively small hotel but the extensiveness of the complex guarantees the utmost peace and an optimally large private sphere. According to the architect's taste, some of the rooms are vaulted, some rectangular, and all are dominated by a subdued, modern Mediterranean style. The dark wooden floors and furniture have not been confected in a fake rustic style, but are plainly elegant and practical. Cupboards built into the wall, and the light- coloured tuff and pure white linen fit the conventional ideal of a southern way of life, mirroring the character and cycles of the surrounding countryside. Lecterns and niches are typical elements of these habitable caves and make each room an original. The terrace offers a breathtaking view of the town - one could sit here for hours, with a glass of wine or sweet Turkish tea, enjoying the heavenly peace and quiet.

A curious atmosphere dominates this place. On the one hand it has a natural, unspoilt feel, and on the other hand boasts all the thoroughly modern comforts of a first-class hotel. In some corners, one seems far removed from any kind of civilisation. Candles burn in small hollows and the coarsely cut walls and rough stone appear to originate from another epoch. Folkloristic elements such as embroidery and carvings round off this picture. When one encounters the bathroom with its marbie and very modern spiendour, it's not unusual to feel somewhat confused by this odd, somehow harmonious contrast.

At Yunak Evleri one tends not to enquire about technical comforts, although they are naturally available. Telephone, internet and fax service are all classed as average, although air-conditioning is certainly not necessary in these naturally cool caves.

The hotel's name means "Well Houses" and is also the name of this whole quarter of town. Prior to the conversion, people actually lived here without running water, heating or modern comforts. The daily life of women was played out at the market place and at the well. In contrast to this, life as a modern-day cave dweller can be positively luxurious. The previous residents would certainiy no longer recognise their homes.

1000 Places To See Before You Die New York Times 1 BESTSELLER

1000 Places To See Before You Die New York Times 1 BESTSELLER

Page 472

For Those Who Think They've Seen It All, Think Again

CAPPADOCIA

URGUP - TURKEY

A trip to the steppes of Central Anatolia is the next best thing to intergalactic travel, at a fraction of the cost and inconvenience. Centuries of wind and water have sculpted a surrealistic landscape form the softvolcanic terrain: minarets, cones, spires, "fairy chimneys," and rocky pinnacles in shades of pinks and russet-brown soar as high as five-story buildings and cover an area of about 50 square miles. Ancient inhabitants of Cappadocia hollowed out the tufa cones and cliffs to create troglodyte-style cave dwellings that are still lived in today. A major trade route between East and West, Cappadocia was home to a dozen different civilizations. The early Christians arrived in the 4th century, sculpting from the rock domed churches, complete with vaulted ceilings, columns, and pews. The open-air museum is the site of an ancient monastic colony, once said to have had more than 400 churches, hermitages, and small monasteries. Today fifteen are open to the public. Some of the simple frescoes date back to the 8th century, but it's the rich Byzantine frescoes of the 10th and 13th centuries that are the most astonishing.

Modern-day troglodytes must head for the utterly unique and charming Yunak Evleri hotel, a romantic web of tastefully restored connecting caves dating back as far as the 5th century.

Crazy Hotels

Crazy Hotels

1000x European Hotels

1000x European Hotels

YUNAK EVLERI

In Cappadocia's magical landscape, in the ancient village of Urgup, lies a luxurious hotel carved into a mountain cliff, the Yunak Evleri. This hotel comprises 30 rooms in six cave houses dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries and a 19th century Green Mansion. These exceptional cave houses were restored. A labyrinth of a narrow passageways and curved stone stairways lead to unique rooms tastefully decorated in warm Ottoman style. The decor is elegant and personalized with hand-crafted furnishings and antiques. With 30 rooms, Yunak Evleri is small enough to be intimate, yet large enough to offer privacy. All rooms have private patios overlooking to the Turkish mesa.

TripAdvisor.com Tripadvisor Announces Top 10 Quirkiest Hotels In The World

TripAdvisor.com Tripadvisor Announces Top 10 Quirkiest Hotels In The World

TRIPADVISOR ANNOUNCES TOP 10 QUIRKIEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD

Ice Hotel in Quebec Freezes Out Competition

NEEDHAM, Mass., July 31, 2006 - TripAdvisor™, the largest travel community in the world, today announced the top 10 quirkiest hotels from around the globe, according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors.

1. Have an Ice Stay: Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada, Quebec, Canada Breathtaking hotel made of ice, features an ice chapel, theme suites, an ice bar, and an art gallery-with ice sculptures, of course. Activities include cross-country skiing, ice fishing, archery, snowmobiling, snow tubing and even dogsled driving. As one TripAdvisor traveler described, "It's like sleeping in a 5-star igloo." The "icetablishment" is only open from January to April, just don't forget your parka and long johns.

2. Jail House Rock: Malmaison Oxford Castle, England, U.K. Everything about the Malmaison Oxford Castle is authentic enough to make you feel as if you are in the confines of an actual prison, but with better company. Can a jail hotel be romantic? According to one TripAdvisor traveler, "My husband and I decided to 'honeymoon' at the Malmaison Oxford Castle, feeling that this magnificent converted prison would make a grand setting to begin our 'life sentence' together. It certainly did not disappoint." The first U.K. prison to be converted into a hotel, rest assured the property was renovated to ensure for more comfortable accommodations.

3. Smooth Sailing: Imperial Boat House, Ko Samui, Thailand With 34 authentic teakwood rice barges converted into land-locked luxury suites, the Imperial Boat House on the beach is nautical nirvana. The lavish outdoor pools are surrounded by a lush and lovely garden. As described by one TripAdvisor traveler, "The resort is really impressive � beautiful landscaping and accents throughout." A final touch-the remarkable beach-front, boat-shaped pool, features cannons-no doubt, to keep the pirates at bay.

4. Entertainment Extravaganza: Fantasyland Hotel & Resort, Edmonton, Canada With over-the-top fixtures and themed rooms, the Fantasyland Hotel and Resort is a shock to the senses. According to a TripAdvisor traveler, "It gives you the feeling that you're somewhere totally different, and when it's -30 C and there is tons of snow, this is the perfect escape." Great for families, it boasts a 217,800 square-foot indoor water park, an indoor ice rink, indoor golf and you guessed it, indoor roller coaster ride. Why all the indoor activities? Remember this is Edmonton, not Ibiza.

5. Tree-Top Tableau: Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel, Manaus, Brazil Seventy feet up into the tree-tops of the Amazon, the Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel features catwalks connecting the entire complex. Activities include a jungle walk, swimming with dolphins, a caiman hunt and even piranha fishing. The rooms are rustic, but in the opinion of one TripAdvisor traveler, "Wouldn't some towering monstrosity of modern conveniences be somewhat incongruous in this setting?" Don't be surprised to see a wide variety of flora and fauna in this authentic jungle environment, where it's okay to hand-feed the monkeys and parrots.

6. Desert Rose: Al Maha Desert Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Unique in its setting in the middle of the Dubai Desert, the Al Maha Desert Resort is an oasis with luxurious accommodations, including private pools and an authentic "Bedouin" encampment design. Activities that might be hard-to-find anywhere else include sand dune driving, falconry and camel trekking, and the panoramic views of the Hajar Mountains are a sight to be seen. Oryx and gazelles are known to come around the rooms at night and drink water from the private swimming pools. As one TripAdvisor traveler noted, "There are lots of wild oryx roaming the grounds, which is nice, but also a bit scary when they're blocking the path to the room."

7. Chief Light-Wallet: Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona Operating along the historic U.S. Route 66, the Wigwams are actually teepee-style, cement tents. The bargain motel features the authentic feel of a 50s desert town-from the furniture, to the vintage cars in the parking lot, to the sounds of the old locomotive passing through town. The rates are also a blast from the past-the average room costs about $45 a night. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, "By the way, the rate is for real... the youngest son of the builder commented to me that they don't make money operating the motel, they do it �as a sort of public service.'" Cash and credit only, wampum not accepted.

8. Caveman's Delight: Yunak Evleri, Urgup, Turkey Carved out of a stunning mountain-side cliff, the honeycombed hotel includes six cave houses, with rooms connected by narrow, maze-like passageways and stone stairways (think Land of the Lost, without the creatures). Decorated in Ottoman style, Yunek Evleri provides private patios offering dramatic views of the Turkish Mesa. As described by one TripAdvisor traveler, "You are then whisked to this serene land with its 7th century caves, outdoor archeological museums, and the best baklava ever."

9. Toro! Toro!: Quinta Real Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico Built around a 17th century bullfighting ring, it's no longer operational, so leave the red cape at home. The Quinta Real Zacatecas incorporates the feel of "Old Mexico," with its colonial architecture. Beautifully illuminated at night, the hotel also faces the city's ancient arched aqueduct and the local village's quaint shops complete the unique experience. Be sure to enjoy the comfy robes... as one TripAdvisor traveler suggested, "Do yourself a favor and buy their robes to take home, I didn't and I have regretted it for seven years now."

10. Inn Vogue: Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California Most often referred to as kitschy, perhaps the best description for the Madonna Inn comes from a recent TripAdvisor traveler, "It's what happens when Barbie moves in with Barney Rubble, all pink and rock." But that's part of the charm of the Madonna. A garish, chalet-style inn, the hotel features 45 rooms with varying themes and color schemes. To many travelers, an indescribably unique experience, perhaps the only thing you need to know is that there is a famous waterfall urinal in the men's room.

About TripAdvisor LLC TripAdvisor.comTM is the largest global travel information and advice destination on the web, with more than 5 million unbiased reviews and opinions and covering 220,000+ hotels and attractions. With more than 20 million unique monthly visitors worldwide (source: comScore Media Metrix, March 2006), TripAdvisorTM was the second most visited travel web domain in March, featuring real advice from real travelers and easy access to major online travel sites, including Expedia.com®, Orbitz, Hotels.com® and American Airlines, for great deals. TripAdvisorTM, which operates sites in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com) and in the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk) provides travel suppliers a graphical advertising and cost-per-click marketing platform. Winner of dozens of awards, including PC Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites and Forbes Best of the Web, TripAdvisorTM is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

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"TripAdvisor" and "TripAdvisor.com" are trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. According to comScore Media Metrix, the top five worldwide travel domains in March 2006 were Expedia.com, TripAdvisor.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com and Travelocity.com.

Frommer's Turkey

Frommer's Turkey

The Yunak Evleri feels like an old aristocratic country guesthouse. The 27 individually sited rooms, renovated from six cave houses and one mansion, are set into the base of a dramatic and soaring outcrop, much like an amphitheater. Aiming for the high end, the owner, ex-Istanbul native Yusuf Gorurgoz, outfitted his hotel with fine accessories, such as Vakko bed runners, antique furnishings, CD sound systems (deluxe and suites only), and locally made ceramics. He personally designed the bathrooms, installing Swedish multiple jet and steam showers to create a lavishness even the Four Seasons would be proud of. (The water pressure kicks butt as well!) All rooms enjoy either a private balcony or communal patio, and architectural niches in the main courts of the houses provide wonderful venues for BBQs or bonfires on crisp nights. Breakfast and dinner are served on a new panoramic terrace of a separate building. At the time of writing, Yunak was providing free pickup service from Kayseri Airport.

Lonely Planet Turkey

Lonely Planet Turkey

Page 522

Yunak Evleri (Tlf 0.384.3416920,www.yunak.com; Yunak Mahallesi; d €120-145, ste €180) This swish hotel is a combination of six cave hauses with 29 rooms. We were superimpressed with the main buiding, which occupies an old and very attractive Greek house and houses a state-of-the-art DVD room and music lounge, but not quite as taken with the general setting, which suffers from an exposed position and lack greenery. That said, guest rooms are extremely comfortable and well appointed.

Open Road Publishing Turkey Guide

Open Road Publishing Turkey Guide

Page 139

Yunak Evleri is in the best sense the son of Esbelli Evi. Construction was undertaken with thoughtful input from the owner of the Esbelli, and the result is impressive.

Owner Yusuf Görürgöz began his ambitious project in 1998, taking it upon himself to renovate and renew a small community of ruined stone-carved buildings that occupied a south-facing cliffside in upper Ürgüp. Work ended in 2000, and from the moment you turn onto the cobbled entry road, curving uphill between low stone walls, you are in a compound where everything is as it should be. The centerpiece is a renovated Greek mansion that now serves as the reception and dining area, and rooms are arrayed in the cliff walls behind.

And what rooms they are: like the Esbelli Evi, each room is cut into the stone, with dark, hardwood floors as flush as the eccentric angles of the cave walls allow, metal bed frames, down comforter covers, and bathrooms clad in marble with heavy white towels. The small touches -reading lights, built-in cabinets, and patios- are marvelous. In big ways and small, the Yunak Evleri is a success.

Good Turkish buffet meals are served nightly for $15, and meet the same high standard. To get there: follow the main road from Ürgüp city center uphill toward Göreme, turning right before Surban Hotel.

Great Small Hotels Collection

Great Small Hotels Collection

THE POWER OF PLACE

Page 165

Some architecture has a noteworthy presence, marked by the history of the place in which it is found. The community culture is so strongly compelling and exacting that these buildings become unique examples of nearly disappearing genres. These hotels, located in buildings with such a strong sense of identity, have fortunately been saved from the road to destruction by thoughtful conservation and renovation. Thus it is truly a privilege today to be able to stay, for example, in a magnificent house that was witness to a history of intrigue in the Qing Dynasty and Republican Era in China where the elegance and exclusiveness of traditional life around an interior patio has been preserved.

In another, completely different, part of the world, the Turkish culture developed an outstanding way of living in luxurious houses actually carved out of a mountain, later adorning the facade with a Greek style mansion. The impressive cave rooms are decorated with antique pieces in the Ottoman style, preserving the legacy. This refined period is also reflected in the stone hotels built in the traditional local stone and furnished with exquisite antiques, Anatolian carpets and hand-woven tapestries.

Alastair Sawday's Special Places To Stay Turkey

Alastair Sawday's Special Places To Stay Turkey

Page 161

Mr Gorurgoz made a fortune as the founder of a fashionable Istanbul restaurant, then invested in a cluster of utterly archaic cave dwellings cut into a cliff in Urgüp. His audacious idea was to convert an entire cave neighborhood into a single luxury hotel without so much as touching the outward appearance. So from the outside the houses look just as they have for the last 100 or even 1,000 years: an ancient warren of holes cut with seeming randomness into the dusty cliff; even to the soot from old stoves remains. Inside, the spaces rival the best of the many-starred hotels of Turkey in style and comfort, charmingly embellished with antiques. Some rooms are set discreetly in their own courtyard, so you need never know who is staying next door. All are full of nooks and crannies, secret passageways and tiny terraces of the sort that normally occur in fairy tales. With a well-trained staff, theYunak Houses offer a level of service seldom found in other small hotels in Cappadocia. And you can mountain-bike through the lunar landscape or go hot-air ballooning at dawn.

Mediterranean Traditional Mansions

Mediterranean Traditional Mansions

Page 77

Yunak Evleri. Cappadocia, Turkey

In Cappadocia's magical landscape of fairy chimneys, in the ancien village of Urgup, is a luxurious hotel carved into a mountain cliff, the Ynak Evleri. Yunak Evleri is a combination of six cave houses with a total of 27 private cave rooms dating back to the 5th. and 6th. centuries and crowned with a 19th. century Greek Mansion. These exceptional cave houses are renovated and decorated with care and in their own distinct style with strictly respecting the local character. The decor is elegant and personalized with beautiful handcrafted furnishengs and antiques. With 27 rooms, Yunak Evleri is small enough to be intimate, yet large enough to offer you privacy. A labyrinth of narrow passageways and curved stone stairways lead to unique rooms tastefully decorated in warm Ottomanstyle. All rooms have private patios overlooking the Turkish Mesa. In the stone mansion at the foot cliffs, an extensive breakfast buffet, including homemade breads, pastries and marmalades, is served. Fresh organic produce is purchased daily. The kitchen is pleased to accommodate specific dietary requests. Evenings are characterized by sunset gatherings on soft upholstered Turkish pillows warmed by an outdoor fireplace. Candlelight dining is offered on the adjacent rooflop terrace.

Cool Hotels Ecological

Cool Hotels Ecological

Page 162-168

It was not long ago that the trms "ecologically-sound" and "design" seemed to be mutually exclusive. Anything labeled "eco-friendly" was usually handmade, plant-dyed, and inelegant, or at least somewhat insipid, and therefore the complete opposite of "cool". Hardcore ecologists rejected aesthetics, clarity, and the vibrant relationship between form and function - in short, all the qualities we associate with sophisticated contemporary design. Now all that has changed. Our planet is under threat and ecological awareness and eco-friendly living have become hot topics all over the world. Lifestyle-oriented urban dwellers have discovered themes such as sustainability and environmental soundness. This is a trend that carries over to vacation choices. Travelers are selecting eco-hotels that feature contemporary design.

The hotels presented in this book were not selected based on a checklist that may result in an ecological seal of approval based on points awarded. The hotels are special because they are designed to blend into the natural landscape and conserve natural resources. This starts with the building materials selected. Stone or renewable materials such as wood are often used. These are materials that would normally be used locally for building. Many hotels forego energy-guzzling air conditioning. In southern countries, buildings are carefully positioned to create as much shade as possible. Windows are installed in positions that allow continuous air circulation. Wherever possible, these eco-hotels use renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power and minimize the amont of garbage they produce. This is an important issue particularly in regions such as the Maldives, where garbage disposal poses an enormous challenge.

Nature is always at the center of the hotels presented in this book. The transitions from indoors to outdoors are fluid, providing guests with a true experience of nature while preserving its appeal for generations to come.

Fodor's Turkey

Fodor's Turkey

Page 283

Yunak Evleri

A cave can really be quite luxurious, as the rooms with wood floors, antique furniture, and chairs covered by Turkish or Central Asian carpets, and very nice bathrooms at this hotel built into theside of a cliff prove; several open to terraces overlooking to the town. Alcoholic drinks are avaliable on the honor system and meals can be served upon request in a private dining room.

Frommer's Turkey

Frommer's Turkey

The Yunak Evleri feels like an old aristocratic country guesthouse. The 27 ind.v.dually sited rooms, renovated from six cave houses and obe mansion, are set into the base of a dramatic and soraing outcrop, much like an amphitheater. Aiming for the hihg end, the owner ex-Istanbul native Yusuf Gorurgoz, outfitted his gotel with fine accessories, such as Vakko bed runners, antique furnishing, CD sound systemds(delluxe and suites only), and locally made ceramics. He personally designed the bathrooms, intaslling Swedish multiple-jet and stream showers to create a lavishness even the Four Seasobs would be proud of.(The water pressure kick butt as well!) All rooms enjoy either a private balcony or communal patio, and architectrak niches in the main courts of the houses provide wonderfull venus for barbecues if bonfires in crisp night